Wilbur Dean “Bill” Nelson, 95

Wilbur Dean (Bill) Nelson, 95, passed away peacefully on May 22, 2025, at his home in Garland, Texas.  Born November 27, 1929, in Concordia, Kansas to Delma Erickson Nelson and Nels Paul Nelson, he was proud of his Swedish heritage and carried the values of hard work, ingenuity, and a positive spirit throughout his life.
In 1933, in the midst of the depression, Bill and his parents moved from Kansas to Imperial, Nebraska.   Late in 1941, just after the family had acquired farmland and began plans to renovate and add to the small home, three events within a two-week period made young Bill mature before his time: his father died of a heart attack, Bill turned 12, and Pearl Harbor was attacked. A new girl had arrived in Imperial, and Bill knew instantly, Shirley was the love of his life.  His mother set a great example as a patriot and survivor (as she remodeled the home as planned), creating Redtop Ranch, and running a successful farm in the community.  Bill learned handyman skills (which served him well through life) from mentors in the small town.  At Chase County High School, class of ’47, he participated in sports, won a state championship as a thespian, and was very popular; “Wild Bill” had a model T with a rumble seat and access to Gas during the war, since his family was engaged in farming.
Bill and Shirley married soon after graduation, and their first son was born in 1948, just before Bill turned 19.  Within 9 years, the family consisted of three sons and two daughters, and the family moved regularly, from one “dam project to another” (from California to Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas) as Bill used to say; he worked for the Bureau of Reclamation and over the years put his ingenuity and work ethic to the benefit of his employer, working his way up from a draftsman to a civil engineer.   Bill excelled in work (and on occasion served as a diver on dam projects); he was also credited with many patents which were perfected and used nationally on dam projects.  He also left each town a better place (in one case raising funds for a drag racing track outside town, leading the Junior Chamber of Commerce) and made many friends and admirers along the way. He was also proud to be a Master Mason from the time he lived in Imperial until his death.
At 55, with all their children “launched”, Bill and Shirley (who had later joined the work force as a department manager at Sears), retired to see the world.  Domestically, they travelled mostly by car to visit all 50 states, cruised on the Delta Queen, where they renewed marriage vows.  They Loved their cruises to Alaska, the Panama Canal, Australia and New Zealand, and the Baltic.  They travelled Europe and were fortunate to have the chance to ride the Orient Express and the Concorde.  
Bill will be remembered by friends and family as a respected craftsman, an innovative problem solver, and a dedicated family man, besides being a friend you could count on’, a man with a joke for every occasion.   He worked countless extra jobs to provide extras for his family and enjoyed using his creative side for home additions, roofing projects storm cellars, and renovation projects.  For his children and grandchildren,  he created rocking horses, kitchen cabinets, playhouses, and mechanical toys.   Bill especially enjoyed his years of being a grandfather and great grandfather, and he and Shirley made themselves available to help on projects and celebrate holidays and graduations wherever the kids resided.
Bill lost his loving partner to brain tumors in 2014, but enjoyed his final years in assisted living where he could still travel on occasion to be with family, but bring his fun-loving and creative spirit to the community around him.  He was loved by many, will be remembered and missed forever.
Bill is survived by daughters, Paula Nelson Boldt (Bob) of Austin, TX and Vicki Charlotta of Garland, TX; sons, Bill David Nelson (Sterrett) of Portugal, and Roger Lee Nelson of Little Rock, Arkansas.  Eight grandchildren: Brittany Boldt of San Diego, Lindsay Boldt of Hatboro, PA, April Boldt (Nick) of Austin, Texas, Justin Nelson (Heidi) of Houston, Texas; Andrew Wright of Dallas, Tx, Tawny Diahann Wright of Dallas, TX, Alex Nelson of Washington State, Valerie Nelson Casanova (Jacob) of Silver Springs, MD.  Bill, known as “Great” to his great grandchildren also leaves behind 9 great grandchildren: Jack Emilion Burnett, Tess Paulina Burnett, Clara Rose Burnett, Stella Nelson, Benjamin Paul Nelson, Sienna Reese Garcia, Willa Riley Garcia, Dax Boldt Garcia, and Audrey Anne Casanova.  He will be missed by numerous nieces and nephews.  Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Georgeana Nelson Helm of Imperial, his loving and devoted wife of 66 years, Shirley Fern Carter Nelson (2014), and his first-born son, Ricky Joe Nelson in 2000.